Hello again Pitt Honors Blog! It has been a while since I have updated you all on the 2023 Pitt cohort of the Appalachian Collegiate Research Initiative. The past month has been a whirlwind of excitement and hard work as we prepared two presentations about our work this semester. To review, the Realizing Regional Resilience initiative by the University of Pittsburgh recruits undergraduates to conduct ethical, community-engaged research in Fayette County, PA to help foster economic development and reduce brain drain. The 2023 cohort represented the third year of our ten-year commitment to Fayette County, which concluded the exploratory phase of our research. In small teams concentrated by our fields of study, we combined past years’ findings with our work to depict a comprehensive plan for community interventions in the coming years. As a Political Science student, my team synthesized key strengths, challenges, and barriers for development expressed by community members to create a focus group outline. This model will allow for a more standardized record of community sentiments, ensuring that the University remains in line with what the community desires in their county’s future.
Our first presentation of our work was for Fayette County community members and stakeholders. Collectively, our cohort saw this presentation as invaluably important. We were not only tasked with creating a presentation that unified the individual trajectories of each team into a cohesive goal, but we had to invite Fayette County residents to attend our presentation. The preparation stage was overwhelming; coordinating the schedules of eleven undergraduate students to work on our slides and oral content was difficult. However, the dedication and talent of each of my peers shone through. We were able to rehearse our presentation in-person and virtually, incorporating each other’s feedback into our individual portions. Being able to practice in front of our faculty advisors was constructive as well. In the week leading up to the presentation on November 17th, my feelings were a mix of nervousness and pride. I was looking forward to visiting the Canteen, the restaurant where our presentation was held, and the beautiful Fayette County for a second time. Still, I ruminated on loose ends. Would we have a large audience? Will residents feel supported by our work? What feedback will they have for us?
Despite these questions and uncertainty, the presentation was a complete success. We started the session with a luncheon at the Canteen, which allowed my peers and I to converse with Fayette residents. I had been so focused on compiling our research from our site visit in October that I hadn’t considered that I would be talking to new people! I learned about Dunbar, a township in Fayette County, and their community’s unique assets for the first time. I plan on including a note about Dunbar in ACRI notes for future cohorts to see. As for the presentation itself, everyone did a great job. Our rehearsals had amounted in a smooth and informative delivery. After everyone had finished speaking, we held a Q&A-turned floor discussion session with the audience. We were given insight on community needs that we had not previously considered, such as apprenticeship programs to help increase employment and agricultural assets. The environment was collaborative, open, and innovative. I left Connellsville that day feeling much more confident in our next adventure: the ARC conference.
The second presentation of our work was for the Appalachian Regional Commission in Washington D.C., where students from many Appalachian schools gathered to present research on Appalachian development. This conference featured important ARC personnel, such as Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin, and was in partnership with East Tennessee State University. In the weeks between our Connellsville and D.C. presentations, all hands were on deck to adapt our existing presentation into a new format. This conference required presentations to be no more than 15 minutes, with all members having a speaking role. Through meetings and rehearsals in our cohorts, our team created a concise yet informative presentation on all four of our projects. However, there was still a concern about speaking within the allotted time. On top of packing and other commitments, the pressure was on as we left Pittsburgh and travelled to D.C.
Our first night at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel was productive. Our team bonded over dinner and headed to work assembling our poster for the first session. The next morning, Day 1 of the conference, was an eye-opening experience. We sat at tables with students and faculty at different institutions. I met students for Auburn University in Alabama and Glenville State University in West Virginia. I learned about some of the issues their communities are tackling, such as housing and outside funding, that are similar to those in Fayette County. Despite the variety in locations, these conversations connected the literature information I had learned about collective Appalachian characteristics to real-life examples. We also discussed the uniqueness of our respective schools. I learned about the campus atmosphere and cultures of Glenville State and Auburn, which eased my nerves from anticipating the presentation. Ron Roach from ETSU did an excellent job hosting the conference, setting the expectation that this conference would be friendly, informative, and meaningful. All of the student presentations were impressive, and I was amazed to see how many different ways students interpreted community-engaged research. During breaks, I was thrilled to ask personalized questions to students by their posters. I spoke with nursing students at Appalachian State University about their work addressing food deserts. Overall, Day 1 of the conference was exciting.
To complete our day in D.C., we explored some of the most infamous sites in the city. I marveled at the Museum of Natural History, the Lincoln memorial, the Korean War memorial, and the Washington memorial to name a few. I am so grateful to be able to expand my Pitt experience outside of Pittsburgh, sharing my academic work and learning along the way. After having dinner in Georgetown, we kicked into rehearsal mode. After several mock run-throughs and lots of notes, we completed multiple presentation run-throughs that did no exceed 15 minutes. Tired and happy, we went to bed for Day 2 of presentations. Our group was presenting second, so before I knew it we were on stage. Our time ran slightly short at the end, but I am truly so impressed by each person’s delivery. I was lucky to answer an audience question about the Political Science cohort’s work on political representative participation. After a long semester of preparation, we did it! I think everyone from Pitt was beyond pleased with the work we had done. The Appalachian Collegiate Research Initiative is a wonderful forum to highlight how upper-education institutions can benefit Appalachian communities in an ethical way, and I am so happy that I could participate in this vision.
To conclude, presenting twice on a semester’s load of work in less than a month was hectic and rewarding. I contextualized my role as a student researcher and community member beyond southwestern PA and as a part of a greater region of resilience. I left D.C. and Connellsville filled with a hope for the future that I have yet to experience in years, as I know that students are the key towards a happier and healthier Appalachia. I intend to keep in touch with Fayette County and the ARC for as long as I possibly can!
Best wishes,
Erin
